Over 250,000 Canadians have signed a parliamentary petition calling for the revocation of Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship and passport.
The petitioners argue that Musk’s ties to US President Donald Trump, who is set to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports next month and has proposed making Canada the 51st state, are harmful to Canada’s national interests.
Musk, a citizen of South Africa, Canada, and the US, has become a key ally of Trump since the latter began his second term last month.
The petition asserts that Musk has used his wealth and influence to meddle in Canadian elections and has aligned himself with a foreign government that seeks to undermine Canadian sovereignty.
In response to the petition, Musk posted on his social media platform X, dismissing Canada as “not a real country.”
The petition, directed at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, demands the immediate revocation of Musk’s dual citizenship and Canadian passport.
However, there are legal challenges surrounding the potential revocation of Musk’s citizenship, which was legally obtained. Musk, who was born in Pretoria, South Africa, has previously stated that he received Canadian citizenship through his mother, Maye Musk, who was born in Canada. He later gained US citizenship a decade after arriving in the United States on a student visa.
To initiate an electronic parliamentary petition, at least five Canadians must support it, a member of parliament must authorize it, and it must undergo an initial review before gathering signatures, according to Canada’s House of Commons procedures.
The petition will remain open until June 20, 2025, after which the clerk of petitions will verify that at least 500 signatures are legitimate. The petition will then have to wait for the next parliamentary session before it can be presented to the House of Commons for debate.
Trump’s repeated claims about annexing Canada have sparked mixed reactions within the country, especially as he has mocked Prime Minister Trudeau on social media, referring to him as Canada’s “Governor.”
In February, Trudeau warned a group of business leaders that Trump’s threat of annexation was a “real thing,” according to those in attendance.
